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7 Make Final Run at Continental Tires ATLANTA–As Continental General Tires gears up for an expanded 1999 ad campaign, the maker and retailer of car and truck tires has narrowed its agency search. Client ad services manager Al Johnson said seven shops will present during the weeks of Feb. 15 and 22: Barkley & Evergreen, Kansas City, Mo.; Doe-Anderson, Louisville, Ky.; Meridian Communications, Lexington, Ky.; Strong Automotive Merchandising, Birmingham, Ala.; The Zimmerman Group, Tallahassee, Fla.; and Price/McNabb and Wray Ward Laseter, both in Continental’s U.S. base of Charlotte, N.C. At press time, incumbent Wolf Group of Toronto had not decided if it would defend. Johnson said the $8.5-10 million budget could grow, depending upon dealer co-op dollars. A decision is expected in early March. FGI Finds Marketing Chief in New York ATLANTA–FGI of Chapel Hill, N.C., has hired John Barnes as president of its marketing communications division. Barnes most recently was executive vice president and managing director at Ammirati Puris Lintas, New York, where he was responsible for accounts such as Johnson & Johnson, Nabisco, Labatt and JVC. Brink’s Business No Longer Secure DALLAS–Brink’s Home Security of Irving, Texas, has placed its $10-15 million direct ad account into review, client senior vice president of marketing Bruce Goldberg confirmed last week. Brink’s was still compiling a list of shops to contact at press time, but Goldberg said that incumbent The Boston Group in Boston would be asked to defend. The media incumbent, Western International Media in Los Angeles, will also participate. DDB Needham Wins Arizona Jeans DALLAS–J.C. Penney has assigned creative, planning and print buying duties for its Arizona Jean Co. line to DDB Needham Dallas. Also pitching was The Richards Group in Dallas. Incumbent Temerlin McClain of Irving, Texas, was not asked to defend. Broadcast media buying remains at TeleVest in New York. Platinum Technology Seeks Agency CHICAGO–Software specialist Platinum Technology is contacting shops about creative duties on its estimated $10 million business-to-business ad account. Among those contacted by the Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., firm are Young & Rubicam and Arnold Ingalls Moranville, both San Francisco, and SicolaMartin, Austin, Texas, client officials said. There is no incumbent. Media buying is at Carat-Freeman, Newton, Mass. Fogarty Klein in Gart Sports Contest DALLAS–Fogarty Klein & Partners in Houston is among five shops discussing a creative broadcast project as part of Gart Sports Co.’s $8-10 million account. Also contending are Pasadena Advertising, Pasadena, Calif.; Henry Gill Agency, Denver; Leo Burnett USA, Chicago; and Schupp Co. in St. Louis.